Golden, Colorado

Golden, Colorado
Downtown Golden, Colorado
Downtown Golden, Colorado
Flag of Golden, Colorado
Motto: 
"Where the West Lives"
Location of the City of Golden in Jefferson County, Colorado
Location of the City of Golden in Jefferson County, Colorado
Golden is located in the United States
Golden
Golden
Location of the City of Golden in the United States
Coordinates: 39°45′12″N 105°12′55″W / 39.75333°N 105.21528°W / 39.75333; -105.21528
Country United States
State Colorado
CountyJefferson County seat[1]
FoundedJune 16, 1859,[2]
as Golden City, Kansas Territory
IncorporatedJanuary 3, 1871, as Golden City, Colorado Territory
Named forThomas L. Golden[3]
Government
 • TypeHome Rule Municipality[1]
 • MayorLaura Weinberg [citation needed]
Area
25.193 km2 (9.727 sq mi)
 • Land24.953 km2 (9.634 sq mi)
 • Water0.240 km2 (0.093 sq mi)
Elevation1,763 m (5,784 ft)
Population
20,399
 • Density817/km2 (2,117/sq mi)
 • Metro
2,963,821 (19th)
 • CSA
3,623,560 (17th)
 • Front Range
5,055,344
Time zoneUTC−07:00 (MST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−06:00 (MDT)
ZIP Codes
80401-80403, 80419, 80439
Area codesBoth 303 and 720
FIPS code08-30835
GNIS feature ID2410611[5]
Interstate highway
U.S. highways
State highways
Light rail W 
Websitewww.cityofgolden.net

Golden is a home rule city that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States.[1][6] The city population was 20,399 at the 2020 United States Census.[4] Golden lies along Clear Creek at the base of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on June 16, 1859, the mining camp was originally named Golden City in honor of Thomas L. Golden. Golden City served as the capital of the provisional Territory of Jefferson from 1860 to 1861, and capital of the official Territory of Colorado from 1862 to 1867. In 1867, the territorial capital was moved about 12 miles (19 km) east to Denver City. Golden is now a part of the Denver–Aurora–Lakewood, CO Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Front Range Urban Corridor.

The Colorado School of Mines, offering programs in engineering and science, is located in Golden. It is also home to the National Earthquake Information Center, on the campus of Mines; and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a federally-funded science institution. Additionally, Coors Brewing Company, CoorsTek, Spyderco, Software Bisque, American Mountaineering Center, and Colorado Railroad Museum are located in the city. It is the birthplace of the Jolly Rancher, a candy bought out by the Hershey Foods Corporation, and home to Yeti Cycles. Western showman William F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody is buried nearby on Lookout Mountain.

  1. ^ a b c d "Active Colorado Municipalities". Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Western Mountaineer, December 7, 1859 and Colorado Transcript, May 30, 1894 and June 15, 1905.
  3. ^ Colorado Transcript, May 19, 1904.
  4. ^ a b c "Decennial Census P.L. 94-171 Redistricting Data". United States Census Bureau, United States Department of Commerce. August 12, 2021. Retrieved October 5, 2021.
  5. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Golden, Colorado
  6. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.

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